Crisis Intervention at the Range UPDATE 6/22!

[6string]

Hello Everyone,

We had a serious incident at our club range, that narrowly missed being a tragedy. I'd be interested in any thoughts or opinions.

Our club has a monthly practical pistol shoot. Some call it a "match" in that they keep scores, but it's run a little too loose for my tastes.

So, the shooter and (only) match official are downrange commencing fire on a sequence that involves moving left to right. As they emerge from behind a barricade, another person about 10 yds behind them raises his pistol and is about to fire....right inline with where the first two guys are about to step. A fourth person alerts the guy who just raised his pistol, preventing him from firing. The first two guys are oblivious.
Here's where it gets worse!
Instead of apologizing for committing a ridiculously horrible safety infraction, which could have resulted in possibly shooting one or both of the first two guys, this guy puts his pistol down on a bench, and assaults the person who warned him, by shoving him and shouting "Don't you ever touch me!" (He had another pistol concealed on his person, and had a permit, adding further to the seriousness.)
The person who was assaulted did the responsible thing and immediately left the club.

A safety committee has been convened, but after two months, I wonder what will be done about this.

Thoughts???

UPDATE 5/28

Please see post #14 for the more comprehensive description of the event and follow up.


The "Range Official" running this event was very defensive about how he does things. Here are three choice quotes:

1) "I'm just here to have fun."

2) "I don't care what the rules say, I'm not changing how I run my matches one bit."

3) "I don't even know what the match is gonna be until I get here and make it up."

UPDATE JUNE 18th!!!

See post #55

 

[moralem]

Boot the guy out.....and find another range.

 

[dmn57]

Sounds like a ticking time bomb. That attitude can be very dangerous.

 

[shouldazagged]

He should be barred from every range in town. That is not someone stable enough that I would want to be anywhere near him when he is armed.

 

[Rammer Jammer]

Kick him out. There's no coming back from that kind of action and there will be a next time if he is allowed to.

 

[bigwheelzip]

... but it's run a little too loose for my tastes.

A lot too loose. Range rules and range officer are at fault. Nobody should have been able to approach the rear firing line when people are down range. Secondary is the offended yokel who can't fathom basic safety.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Quick temper and guns do not mix.

 

[delcrossv]

Safety takes precedence over some boob's over-easily offended sensibilities. Ban him.

 

[chiefbob81]

Gone, gone, gone!

 

[mrchick]

Two months, and no ban? Find a new club!

 

[Absalom]

As for the almost-shooter and shover, I'm in agreement with all of the above.

However, your club needs to seriously revisit its safety procedures.

Having the only "official" sneaking around barricades downrange with a shooter, with (I presume from your depiction) no safety officer on the actual firing line, is an invitation to disaster.

The almost-shooter's inappropriate response to being warned should not detract from that. Even though he was a jerk, I doubt he was planning to shoot at the other two guys; he actually didn't notice them in time, in itself indicative of a dangerous set-up.

 

[photocosmo]

… it's run a little too loose for my tastes.

Get another club.

 

[gman51]

Hot heads shouldn't have guns nor be allowed at gun ranges. I would be highly surprised if the club doesn't give him the boot for good. If I ever saw that man there I would turn right around and leave.
I wonder if the man's breath smelled like booze? Two months and the club hasn't done squat? The guy was about to start shooting while people were down range is about as ignorant as can be.

 

[6string]

As for the almost-shooter and shover, I'm in agreement with all of the above.

However, your club needs to seriously revisit its safety procedures.

Having the only "official" sneaking around barricades downrange with a shooter, with (I presume from your depiction) no safety officer on the actual firing line, is an invitation to disaster.

The almost-shooter's inappropriate response to being warned should not detract from that. Even though he was a jerk, I doubt he was planning to shoot at the other two guys; he actually didn't notice them in time, in itself indicative of a dangerous set-up.

-You are correct. Only one "official" on duty for the "match". That's the way he insists on doing it.
-Approx. 25 yd indoor range. 8 points. Structural beamwork running down the middle length of the range, thus the "barricade" scenario.
-Participant and official forward on the line. Behind them are a group of people who have already shot, those waiting their turn, and general observers. Virtually all armed.
-No written match rules, although club bylaws indicate matches must be run according to NRA or other national sanctioning body (i.e.: IDPA, CMP, USPSA, SASS, IHMSA, etc.) match rules.

-Disclosure: I am not any of the involved individuals described in my OP.

Your input is most appreciated.

UPDATE 5/28 POST MEETING

The "Range Official" running this event was very defensive about how he does things. Here are three choice quotes:

1) "I'm just here to have fun."

2) "I don't care what the rules say, I'm not changing how I run my matches one bit."

3) "I don't even know what the match is gonna be until I get here and make it up."

 

[JayFramer]

Sounds like your all-too-typical tacticool macho weekend warrior rage beast.

I find the local ranges around here for many people are less about shooting and more about showing off and making noise. Safety is thrown to the wayside, nobodies ever in the wrong, the RO's are all "stupid", and whoever has the longest beard and the most tattoos wins the game.

If I could have my own private invite-only gun-range, I'd never go to ANY public range EVER AGAIN. Indoor ranges are even worse, add all that with low light, cramped quarters, and fewer ROs...

Too many posers and dolts trying to be the toughest tactigod on their block...

 

[ericrlarson]

I have shot in USPSA/IPSC for close to 20 years and in my opinion those matches require several Range Officers. If things don't change with that range, it's only a matter of time before someone gets hurt.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Old Corp]

Yep - club needs to re-visit their protocols for how shoots are run.
And - Mr. Angry needs to be formally trespassed - registered mail and all.

Way back, several friends and I started a private 40 acre range. For years it was very active with many IPSC matches, DCM/CMD matches, 'Ladies Handgun Day', Juniors programs.
We maintained a very serious attitude about safety and had some great RSO's. Don't recall any problems occuring.

And like a previous poster - if all I had was indoor ranges to shoot at, I'd probably just take up golf or fish/hunt more. Having worked at one and shot there many times, it's just not very enjoyable.
Can't chat with your buddies, you're in a cave that is completely dependent on the provided light or lack thereof, not-so-safe strangers waving guns about, just a little personal space for your gear and you - just...no.
Feel very fortunate to have my own range as well as a friend's nearby.

 

[Old TexMex]

86 the touchy guy, and get some control over the program, pronto. The indoor range for general public types always makes me uneasy.
Since nothing has been changed in the two months, I'd say adios, au revoir, sayonara, tam biet.

 

[H Richard]

In that situation, multiple shooters waiting to shoot while shooter and RO are down range a minimum should the RO, and a Range Master who maintains order and lines up the following shooters. Had that situation happened at my range the guilty member would have been asked to leave the match then his name submitted for expulsion from the club at the next board meeting. We had a similar sort of situation some years ago, where the competitor who had a temper, threw his gun into his range bag hard, without regard to muzzle direction. He had thrown tantrums on multiple occasions without and gun handling violations. He was told to leave the range and the board met and had a vote to expel him. The individual appeared in person, acknowledged his anger problem and requested he be allowed to be an RO and would not bring a gun or attempt to compete. It turned out he was the best range master we hand and was elected to the Chief Range Master. His attitude change made all the difference. It's now over 10 years later and he still has not participated outside his official duties.

 

[Wise_A]

Hello Everyone,

We had a serious incident at our club range, that narrowly missed being a tragedy. I'd be interested in any thoughts or opinions.

Our club has a monthly practical pistol shoot. Some call it a "match" in that they keep scores, but it's run a little too loose for my tastes.

So, the shooter and (only) match official are downrange commencing fire on a sequence that involves moving left to right. As they emerge from behind a barricade, another person about 10 yds behind them raises his pistol and is about to fire....right inline with where the first two guys are about to step. A fourth person alerts the guy who just raised his pistol, preventing him from firing. The first two guys are oblivious.
Here's where it gets worse!
Instead of apologizing for committing a ridiculously horrible safety infraction, which could have resulted in possibly shooting one or both of the first two guys, this guy puts his pistol down on a bench, and assaults the person who warned him, by shoving him and shouting "Don't you ever touch me!" (He had another pistol concealed on his person, and had a permit, adding further to the seriousness.)
The person who was assaulted did the responsible thing and immediately left the club.

A safety committee has been convened, but after two months, I wonder what will be done about this.

Thoughts???

What will be done?
Probably nothing. The guys that run events like this want to keep running them, and in my experience, they're usually the "in" guys.

What would you do?
Shooter
First, it's not entirely clear--did he approach the firing line unauthorized or not at the proper place? If so, then yes, the actual violation is mostly his, although you should absolutely have safeguards against exactly that.

In any case, regardless of any other fault, his behavior is completely irresponsible. I would immediately suspend him from the club, vote him out under your normal processes, and once he's no longer a member, I would call your local law enforcement and have him trespassed from the property. If he shows up at all, even as a guest, call the police.

In my local jurisdiction, I do believe the judge would revoke one's CCW permit over this.

Event

Whoo boy. You guys need RSOs. This is how I would organize it, with the disclaimer that I haven't actually seen your setup:

*RSO #1 is in charge of monitoring the shooter directly. They may issue range commands to the shooter, but must receive confirmation from RSO #2 before beginning a round.

*RSO #2 monitors the firing position or "start" area. Anyone that wishes to proceed downrange must check in with this person.

*RSO #3 is in charge of monitoring the spectator/waiting area. No firearms may be handled in this area. Magazines may be loaded. This RSO should be positioned in between the spectators and waiting shooters.

*RSO #4 oversees the event, acting as match director, and fills in when another RSO needs a break. He should also monitor the "safe area", where firearms may be removed from bags and holstered in the beginning, and unholstered/bagged at the end. Ideally, you would have a fifth RSO to do this, but I'm presuming you lack manpower.

Yes, this is very redundant. Redundancy is good, it keeps bad boo-boos from happening.

You also need to delineate areas, and probably ensure that people know that no ammunition is allowed in the safe area, no loaded firearms are permitted anywhere but the firing line, etc.

I would also point out that it sure sounds like there's no range safety briefing going on. Shooters should absolutely be aware that a hand on the shoulder means "stop", what a "cease fire" is, and where/when/how they should enter the firing line. That's not happening, and it means that whoever is ultimately in charge is either blindingly inept, completely untrained, or just a walking range hazard...

-You are correct. Only one "official" on duty for the "match". That's the way he insists on doing it.

Oh, cool! I got it in one! The guy is a moron and should not be allowed to run an event at this facility. Any event. That he thinks he can run such an event with one person shows he's that special kind of stupid that makes him a danger. Allowing him to do so is equally clueless--I'd call it negligent.

If there's any debate, I would happily share a slide or two from the NRA RSO handbook to demonstrate how inept this guy is. Nobody with any sense would run an event like that, it's not even close to meeting common practice or standards.

TL;DR--You already know you need to get rid of the symptom, but the problem is that you have a monkey at the wheel. You need a certified Chief Range Safety Officer, ideally one with a professional background. If your insurance guy reads this, he'd have a stroke.

He should be barred from every range in town. That is not someone stable enough that I would want to be anywhere near him when he is armed.

I agree with the sentiment, but you're opening yourself up to big trouble if you go around trying to get the dude blacklisted. Yes, he absolutely should be. No, it's not a great idea to do it. World ain't perfect, protect your members and your range first.